Master of Arts in Forensic and Legal Psychology

• 39 credit hours
• 18 to 24-month program
• $1,275 per credit hour
• Fall enrollment
• Study abroad opportunities (i.e., London, The Netherlands)

• Graduate application
• Professional résumé
• Official transcripts of all postsecondary education
• 2 professional recommendations
• Personal statement, essay question, and writing sample (click here for more details)
• Click here for admission requirements for the Forensic & Legal Psychology/Counseling with Clinical Mental Health Specialization dual degree, or the Intelligence Studies concentration

Important dates for the Fall application cycle:

• September 1: Application Opens
• December 18: Priority Deadline
• February 15: Final Deadline

International Students:
For university coursework completed outside the U.S., a course-by-course transcript evaluation is required from a NACES member evaluation agency such as World Education Services or Educational Credentials Evaluators.

Students for whom English is a second language must submit a recent official score of 96 from TOEFL, 6.5 from IELTS, or 58 from the PTE academic exam, or documentation of program completion at one of Marymount University’s language partners. For complete information about International Admissions Guidelines and language partner programs, visit our International Graduate Students page.

For more information please contact:   
Office of Graduate Admissions
gadmissi@marymount.edu
703-284-5901

FLP 511: Legal and Investigative Psychology

Examines the role of psychological research and knowledge as it pertains to contemporary issues within the legal and law enforcement systems. Focus will be on the application of experimental areas of psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, physiological) to topics such as witness memory and identification, investigative interviewing, deception detection, false confessions, and juries.

FLP 520: Wrongful Convictions — Case Analysis

Provides students with the opportunity to examine an actual current case of possible wrongful conviction for homicide using state-of-the-art research and investigative techniques. With the help of law enforcement experts, students examine the crime scene, prosecution and defense arguments, witness testimony, police conduct, and the psychological status of the convicted individual. At the end of the class, students provide a written analysis of the case, which is provided to the client’s attorney(s).

FLP 531: Psychology of Criminal Behavior

Provides a foundational understanding of the origins and consequences of criminal behavior, including biological, cognitive, behavioral, psychosocial, and developmental perspectives. Also explores theories of social deviance, cultural biases, and the underpinnings of aggression.

FLP 570: The Intelligence Community

Provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S intelligence community (IC) and its vital role in the formulation of U.S. foreign and national security policy. This course will explore how information is collected and transformed from raw intelligence to a finished analytical product used to inform policymaking decisions. The IC’s response to terrorism, the use of covert action as a tool of U.S. foreign policy, and the ethical dilemmas that arise in the conduct of intelligence operations will also be examined.

Click here to view full degree requirements

Click here to view all program course descriptions

Marymount’s master’s in Forensic & Legal Psychology degree will equip you for numerous roles in criminal justice, intelligence, national security, and public policy. You’ll find Marymount alumni employed as:

• Correctional case managers
• Crime analysts
• Intelligence analysts
• Law enforcement agents, analysts, and officers
• Mitigation specialists
• Parole and probation officers
• Sentencing advocates
• Victim specialists

Employment in criminal justice and other related fields is projected to grow 7% this decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary for a Criminal Investigator in Virginia is $97,900, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

Welcome to the Forensic and Legal Psychology M.A. program at Marymount University, the first program of its kind in the DC region! Forensic and legal psychology is the application of psychology to the legal system. Our program is unique in that it focuses on the clinical aspects of the field (e.g., psychopathology, forensic assessment), as well as such experimental areas as social, cognitive, and developmental psychology (e.g., wrongful convictions, deception detection, eyewitness identification). In addition, we offer an optional concentration in Intelligence Studies, wherein students focus on national security issues (e.g., terrorism) and intelligence analysis. Our faculty are reflective of the program, with degrees and expertise in clinical psychology, forensic psychology, legal psychology, intelligence analysis, public policy, counseling, and criminology. As a result, students will learn about the complex psycholegal and national security issues that span our vast discipline. For students who are interested in becoming forensic counselors, we offer a dual degree program (75 credits) with the CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A.

Because we have been in existence for well over two decades in a prime location, we have cultivated extensive relationships, internships, and networking opportunities with various local, state, and federal agencies, as well as organizations within the private sector. Our program is well known in the region, and we have a stellar reputation within the professional community. We are also proud of the study abroad opportunities that we provide to our students.

In addition to networking and educational opportunities in the field by way of internships, site visits, and courtroom observations, we also have various experts share their knowledge and expertise within the classroom, as guest speakers and adjunct professors. Such individuals include intelligence analysts, law enforcement officials, mitigation specialists, federal supervisory special agents, judges, government officials, and victim assistance specialists. We offer various program events throughout the year that further enhance networking and career opportunities.

Finally, when it comes to employment, our graduates have obtained careers in law enforcement (local, state, federal), crime analysis, mitigation investigation, offender supervision, intelligence analysis, policy development/analysis, and child victim advocacy, just to name a few.

I encourage you to peruse our program pages, FAQs, and the admission requirements. Please reach out to us with any questions. I wish you the best in your academic pursuits and hope to see your application.

Click here to view our Faculty

“I chose the Forensic & Legal Psychology program at Marymount because it offered small class sizes and a high level of experience from the professors. With their guidance, I conducted research, made contacts in law enforcement, and expanded my knowledge base and skills. Every day, that expertise helps me when working with law enforcement agencies across the country on initiatives including reducing violent crime, implementing technology, and enhancing crime analysis capacity.” — Samantha Rhinerson, Class of 2018, Program Manager at the National Policing Institute

“After finishing my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I wanted to stay in the region and specialize in forensics. Marymount’s Forensic & Legal Psychology program was situated in an ideal location and offered a breadth of classes I knew would benefit my future career as a forensic psychologist. Upon completing the FLP master’s program, I began my doctoral studies in clinical psychology, where my coursework and internship from the FLP program were immensely useful, particularly when I trained at a juvenile detention facility and psychiatric hospital. I continue to regularly integrate the knowledge I gained from the FLP program in my current work in the adult prison system.” — Brit Pereira, Class of 2018, Predoctoral Intern in the North Carolina Dept. of Public Safety (Adult Corrections)

“The Forensic & Legal Psychology master’s degree program at Marymount provided me with a broader understanding of the field than other programs and a large selection of classes and career paths to choose from. Courses there gave me the confidence and knowledge to pursue important opportunities. In addition, Marymount’s great location in the D.C. metro area offered internships and jobs at a variety of agencies. Ultimately, my ability to return to live and work in this area was due, in part, to the connections I made while in graduate school.” — Meghan Mohon, Class of 2019, Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator for the City of Alexandria, VA